Mo. AG office adviser plans to retire

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has chosen a new top legal adviser as his current general counsel prepares to scale back his duties.

Koster announced Wednesday that Ron Holliger plans to retire as general counsel near the end of the year and will serve part-time as a senior counsel for the office. He has been general counsel since 2009.

Holliger previously served as a trial judge in Jackson County and on the Missouri Court of Appeals’ Western District.

Koster named Joan Gummels to succeed Holliger as general counsel. Gummels has been Koster’s director of policy and communications and was the attorney general’s legislative director from 2009 to 2012.